One of golf’s most powerful men made a wish.
yes, Fred Ridley was happy that Brooks Koepka was returning to the PGA Tour after leaving him for LIV Golf.
But the chairman of the Masters and Augusta National also called for more players to join.
“I think the game of golf is always better when the best players in the world play at the same time and in the same place,” Ridley said. “I think it’s better for the fans. It’s better for the history of the game, the legacy these players create.
“I’m happy that one player, Brooks Koepka, is back on the PGA Tour and hopefully there will be a way for more players to all play in the same place.”
Ridley appeared Thursday alongside the USGA CEO Mike Wan and R&A chairman Martin Hattrell during a press conference for the Latin American Amateur Championship. For the winner of the LAAC, each speaker’s group gives them an exemption into the major championships they host – the Masters, the US Open and the Open Championship. Each speaker’s specialties are also among the few events where PGA Tour and LIV Golf professionals come together.
And every speaker was also excited to see that Koepka would soon be playing on the PGA Tour again.
Said Hattrell: “We are pleased to see another great player who will be seen more often in golf’s major tournaments in the future.”
Said Whan: “Likewise, we’ve seen Brooks at the US Open the last few years. No matter what tournament he came from, he qualified. We had that decision in 2022. If you remember, the US Open was the week after the first LIV event and there was a question about what we would do or would like to do and we decided very quickly if you would qualify for the US Open in us.
“I think it’s been a good move for the game and a good move from a player’s point of view, and like Martin, if it means the fans can see the best in the world on a more regular basis, how can it be bad.”
Koepka’s road back to the PGA Tour lasted just over two weeks.
after said LIV Golf that the five-time major winner is leaving the league on Dec. 23, the PGA Tour announced Monday that Koepka was coming back next month under the newly established “Returning Member Program.” Under the policy, Koepka and three current LIV players – Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith – will be allowed to return to the PGA Tour through their major championship wins over the past four years, but will have to agree to a number of conditions, including making a $5 million charitable donation and not receiving access to the Tour’s 20 20 equity program for five years.
In making that announcement, the Tour said Koepka had agreed to those terms, while the others face a Feb. 2 deadline to decide. And that may be the only way back, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said, as the Tour suspends players who play in LIV events.
